In a corner of the south of the Yangtze River, an unknown ancient town stands quietly. Its blue brick corners reflect century-old fireworks, and the deep streets and alleys hide the vicissitudes of the times. From the turmoil of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China to the dawn of victory in the Anti-Japanese War, this ancient town witnessed the turbulence of mountains and rivers, and also carried the grievances and hatreds between the five aristocratic families of Huafu, Baifu, Hongfu, Lanfu, and Zhangfu, and the Qinglong Mountain bandit village. They may fight openly and secretly for power, compete with each other for interests, or be deeply bound by fate. They are constantly entangled in daily life. But when foreign enemies step on, some people stick to their national integrity and stand up, while others live in an ignoble existence and become vassals. Their respective choices outline the various aspects of life in troubled times.
The story is intertwined with two main lines, connecting the joys and sorrows and perseverance in troubled times. The first main line focuses on the young boys and girls in the ancient town. They were born under the shackles of feudal ethics, and were tightly bound by the expectations of their family elders and the shackles of bureaucrats and gentry. However, they always cherished the yearning for freedom and love, and persistently pursued passionate and unrestrained love. Some even woke up when the nation was in danger and devoted themselves to the revolutionary cause without hesitation. They broke through secular barriers, resisted family oppression, faced foreign aggression, and paid heavy blood and tears in perseverance and sacrifice, composing tragic and moving youth epics. The second main line focuses on the difficult rise of the national bourgeoisie. Taking Baifu Jade, Hongfu Paint and other family industries as microcosms, it shows the arduous and tragic development process of national industries under the covetousness and shackles of world powers, as well as the unremitting efforts and outstanding contributions made by practitioners to protect the national foundation.
